Mata-hari definition
Dutch spy. A professional dancer in Paris after 1905, she apparently spied for Germany during World War I and was arrested and executed by the French.
(person) (name for Margaretha Geertruida Zelle) 1876-1917; Du. dancer: executed by the French as a German spy during WWI.
proper name
Origin of mata-hari
- From Dutch (stage name of Margaretha Geertruida (Grietje) Zelle, a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who was executed by firing squad for alleged espionage during World War I), from Indonesian matahari (“sun"), from Malay matahari (“sun").
From Wiktionary